Restricted entry
The Government of Lebanon refuses entry to holders of Israeli
passports and holders of passports containing a visa for Israel,
valid or expired, used or unused.
Passport
A valid passport is required for 3 months by all, except nationals
of Syria arriving from their country with a valid national
ID.
Visa
A valid visa is required by all except the following:
(a)Nationals of Syria for stays of up to 6 months.
b)Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same
or first connecting aircraft provided holding onward or return
documentation and not leaving the airport.
Currency
The currency for Lebanon is Lebanese Pound (L£) = 100 piastres.
Notes are in denominations of L£100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000,
5000, 1000, 500, 250 and 100. Coins are in denominations of
L£500, 250 and 100
Currency exchange
There are a large number of banks in Beirut where international
currencies can be exchanged. Unofficial money changers also
operate and some hotels offer exchange services. US Dollars
are best and do not need to be exchanged as they are accepted
even in small shops.
Credit cards
The cards that are excepted are: MasterCard, American Express,
Diners Club and Visa are accepted by airlines, hotels, some
restaurants and larger shops.
Travelers cheques
A limited acceptance of travelers cheques are excepted in
Lebanon, as major banks only accept certain types of travelers
cheques. Travelers cheques also require up to 2 weeks to clear
and are therefore generally not recommended.
Banking hours
The hours are from 0800-1230 (for money withdrawals) and 1230-1400
(for other services.)
Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into Lebanon without incurring
customs duty: a)200 cigarettes or 20 cigars or 200g of tobacco,
and
b) 2 bottles of alcohol.
Health care
a)A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from
travellers arriving from infected areas.
b)Health insurance is essential.
Getting There
By Air
The national airline is Middle East Airlines (MEA), which
operates 9 direct flights per week from London to Beirut.
By Sea
The main international ports are Beirut, Tripoli, Jounieh,
Tyre and Sidon. Cruise ships are available from Jounieh.
By Road
The international routes are via Turkey and Aleppo Homs and
Lattakia in Syria along the north-south coastal road, and
also the Beirut Damascus trunk road. Bus services are available
from Europe.
Getting Around
By Road
Traffic drives on the right. Speed limit signs, traffic police
and traffic lights are present but may not always be respected
and driving, particularly in Beirut, can be quite unpredictable.
As public transport is limited, roads in Beirut are overcongested.
a)Taxi:
Intercity taxis operate throughout Beirut and Lebanon. Travel
is normally shared. Prices are negotiated in advance. Town
taxis have red licence plates and an official tariff. There
is a surcharge of 50% after 2200.
b)Car hire
Self-drive cars are available, but chauffeur-driven vehicles
are recommended. An International Driving Permit and Green
Card insdurance are required.
c)Public bus
Services are available in Beirut, where bus services have
recently been expanded, although service taxis remain the
most widely used option.
Social Conventions
Lebanese people are known for their hospitality. Handshaking
is the normal form of greeting. It is acceptable to give a
small gift, particularly if invited home for a meal. As far
as dress is concerned, casual dress is suitable for daytime
wear, except in main towns where dress tends to be rather
formal. Smarter hotels and restaurants often require guests
to dress for dinner. Smoking is common and acceptable unless
specified otherwise.
Tipping
In hotels and restaurants, a tip of between 5% to 10% of the
bill is expected. It is not necessary to tip taxi-drivers.
|